Mouthpiece for wind musical instruments



April 5, 1932. E. M. HINER MOUTHPIECE FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FiledNov 18 1929 Patented Apr. 5, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EDWIN MORRISON HINER, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MOU'IHPIECE FOR WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSApplication filed November 18, 1929.

This invention belongs in the general class of musical instruments, andin that particular group technically designated as brass windinstruments: which includes trumpets,

cornets, tubas, trombones, and all others in which notes are produced bylip vibration as distinguished from those which produce sounds by reedvibrations, or direct vibrations of air columns having no mouthpiece,

tonal production, e. g., flutes, fifes and the like.

The objects of the invention are to provide a mouthpiece for the classof instruments specified, which, fundamentally, distribute the total lippressure, thereby reducing the unit pressures between the activatinghuman lip and the metal mouthpiece, which will provide an annulus aroundthemouthpiece against which the inactive portion of the human lip mayrest and steady itself. From these conditions proceed importantimprovements and results, to-wit, reduction or elimination of theso-called lip paralysis of performers on brass wind instruments; theenabling of playing of wind instruments by persons having no frontteeth, the prevention of tooth injury, and other beneficial effectswhich will be made manifest as this description proceeds.

In playing brass wind instruments the humanlips vibrate thereby settingin vibration the air column in the instrument. Fundamental Variations inthe pitch of notes are produced by variation in the vibration of theouter, mid-zone of the players lips, the upper lip being the principaland the important element in effecting tonal changes. Asis well known inphysics, the time period of vibration of any member, substance, or cord,increases with the tension to which it maybe subjected. In accordancewith this general law, the higher notes, corresponding to more rapidvibrations, are produced by increasing the pressure on the lips.herefrom, follows the practice of pressing the lip forcibly against themouthpieces of brass instruments when. higher notes are to be played. Inevery branch of musical note production the ability to produce a clearsustained note of high pitch is regarded as the Serial No. 408,107.

most desirable quality for any performer and one which is the mark of asuperior technique and musical attainment, and so it is also in playingbrass wind instruments. For these reasons, performers on brass windinstruments, and especially those of a higher general range or pitch, e.g., the cornet, learn early to press hard with the lips against theborder of the mouthpiece and this pressure of a comparatively narrowmetal annulus against the outer mid-zone of the lip, combined with therapid vibration of the small free end of the lip, causes a lip paralysiswhich frequently terminates the ability of the performer to producemusic and the necessity of turning to some other vocation. Furthermore,this paralysis often comes early in the career of wind brass instrumentplayers so that it is particularly harsh in its results on the life andfortunes of those musicians who have adopted this class of instrumentsfor their usual performances.

A second important condition is that of the essential requirement offront teeth, for any performer on this group of brass wind instruments.The lips are clamped between the metal annulus and the teeth. Obviously,clamping the upper part of the upper lip between the annulus and theteeth leaves the lower end of the lip free to vibrate, and it is thiscondition which produces the initial vibration of the air column in theinstrument. The rapidity of lip vibration, combined with severe pressureof the exterior member, or mouthpiece, makes the use of any form ofremovable false teeth impossible as a backing, or pressure member,cooperating with the annulus to compress the lips. False teeth arejarred or pushed from position, and performers who lose front teeth canno longer play brass wind instruments. Furthermore, the combinedpressure and vibratory action to which the teeth are subjected inplaying these instruments, tend to cause serious tooth diseases andcorresponding losses even in early years.

Obviously, other troubles are engendered by the foregoing conditionswhich it is needless here to catalogue, and it is towards theelimination of these various difficulties, diseases and conditions thatthis invention is directed and the mouthpiece of this invention correctsthese evils and also permits a far better lip disposition or embouchure.

With the foregoing, and other objects in View, the invention consists inthe novel and useful formation, construction, interrelation andcombination of parts, members and features, as well as mode and methodsof use thereof, and steps and performances taken and had, all ashereinafter described, shown in the drawings and finally pointed out inclaims.

In the drawings: 7 v

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an improved mouthpiece made in accordance withthis invention and showing a fragmentary portion of the entrant end ofan instrument into which the mouthpiece tube is fitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan of same;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of same, omitting the fragment of the horn;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a modification of the same; and

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a modification of Fig. 1.

In the figures, A represents the entire device, B is the entrant end ofany kind of horn or brass instrument, the end 10 of the connecting tubeforming part of the mouthpiece, and cooperating end of B, belng ground,or otherwise formed, to fit together, making an ordinary taper,slip-joint as is customary in all musical instruments of this type, thetube end 10 fitting into entrant end of the instrument, B.

The standard form of mouthpiece is indicated by that portion of eachfigure which terminates at the upper end in the rounded anannulus andcutting into the lips.

nulus 11. This invention contemplates the provision of two annuli, eachwith its projecting rounded portion in substitution for the standardmouthpiece, thereby producing an inner annulus 11 and an outer annulus12, both whereof are somewhat raised. The outor annulus 12 extends,radially, a comparatively large distance outward from the edge of theorifice, thereby presenting a relatively wide flanged member encirclingthe mouthpiece opening with an inner raised annulus around and adjacentthe opening, and a second raised annulus outside of and adjacent thesaid first named annulus, as shown by the figures.

Obviously, this construction permits the lips to contact with both ofthe annuli so that they are pressed against the inner ring of theorifice tightly enough to make a high note, while the rest of the lip ispressed against the outer annulus so that the total area over which thepressure is distributed is much greater than that of the narrow innerannulus, which thereby prevents the pressure frombeing concentratedaround the single Due to the increased area of contact, the unitpressure of lip against metal can never be very great. Hence, there canbe no forcing the narrow mouthpiece rim against the lips to thedetriment of both lips and teeth before mentioned, but the pressure,being distributed over two concentric rounded rings forming a wideflange, can be nowhere very great or injurious.

Therefore, the extension of the area of pressure prevents the severalills before mentioned which arise from the severe, cutting effects of anarrow, single annulus and its small area. Further, by reason of thegreater area of the mouthpiece end, persons without front teeth canplaywind brass instruments just as prior to removal of their teeth. Thewider mouthpiece presses the lips against the gums thereby holding thelips in compression so that they can vibrate similarly to the actionwhen the lips are pressed between mouthpiece and the teeth. Also, thepressure on any single tooth is less than in the case of the narrow,single annulus and its much smaller area. Hence, it is obvious that thedouble ring mouthpiece, having the far greater area, saves the lips andthe teeth and enables performers who have lost their front teeth tocontinue to play brass band instruments.

A modification of this structure is shown in Fig. 4, whereby the outerannulus is adjustable relativeto the inner one by threading the exteriorof the mouthpiece, which is made cylindrical over a short distance, 14,just under the annulus 11 to receive the threads. The outer annulus ismade as a separate member and bored and threaded to fit the threadedcylindrical portion of the exterior of the mouthpiece. The outer edge ofthe inner annulus 11 is also made cylindrical, at 17, the outer memberbeing dimensioned to fit around the short cylindrical lengths 14 and 17of the mouthpiece exterior.

Obviously, by turning the outer member 12 around mouthpiece exterior 11,member 12 is caused to move axially along mouthpiece 11 over a narrowrange so that the relative projection of the two annuli may be slightlyvaried to suit the personal preferences of the player.

The dotted outline indicates the changed position of the exteriorannulus when screwed upward as far as the parts permit.

A second modification is shown in Fig. 5. In this form the upper surfaceis curved in elevation, when viewed from one direction, so that themouthpiece tends to follow the contour of the mouth, somewhat like themouthpiece of a trumpet, as shown.

Having described my invention, in connection with illustrativeembodiments, forms and arrangements of parts, it will be understood thatmany variants thereof are possible to those skilled in the art, and myinvention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the particularconstruction or application herein shown and described, as changes inthe size, proportions, configurations, arrangements, assemblage,interaction, juxtaposition and mechanical relations, as well asadditions, omissions, substitutions, combinations and a1- terations offorms, parts, members, features and in the kind and order of operationsand successive steps may be made without departing from the broad spiritof'this invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments having a member with twoprojecting portions for lip reception between which said member extends.

2. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments having inner and outerprojecting annuli for lip reception and a web between and connectingsame.

3. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments having inner and outerportions of projection for lip reception, the relative positions of thesaid portions being adjustable; and means connecting and extendingbetween same.

4. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments adapted for lip applicationincluding an inner annular portion, and an outer annular portion, thetwo said portions being united to form a continuous member.

5. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments adapted for lip applicationincluding an inner annular portion, and an outer annular portion, thetwo said portions being united to form a continuous member and meanswhereby the two said portions may be adjusted relatively to each other.

6. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments adapted for lip applicationincluding an inner annular portion, and an outer annular portion, thetwo said portions being united to form a continuous member and meanswhereby the projection of the said outer portion is adjustable withrespect to the said inner portion.

7. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments, comprising a projectingportion surrounding the opening of the mouthpiece, and a secondprojecting portion concentric therewith and slightly below the saidfirst portion and extending radially outward a considerable distancerelatively beyond the said first portion, the two said projectingportions being united by a web thereby providing a continuous surfacefor the reception of lips.

8. A mouthpiece for brass wind musical instruments including a cuppedopening whereof the border is a rounded annulus, said opening beingcontracted to a comparatively small tapered tube adapted to make aslipjoint connection with an instrument, a radially continuous flangehaving a raised annulus adjacent its periphery and encircling the saidborder annulus, thereby providing

